Special teams get Portland Winterhawks their first win of 2018-19

Big moments

Winterhawks kill off two consecutive penalties early in the 1st. Kept Seattle from taking the lead and set the tone for a 5-for-5 penalty kill.

12 seconds into the 2nd, Shane Farkas misplays a puck behind the net and Zack Andrusiak makes him pay to tie the game 1-1. Kept the game in doubt in a period where Seattle didn't end up getting many chances.

With the Winterhawks leading 2-1 late in the 2nd, Cade McNelly gives Portland a 7-minute power play with a crosscheck and a one-man fight in an incident that dished out five fighting majors.

Seattle killed off 5 minutes of the penalty, so Portland led 2-1 after 2. It would've been a big lift to Seattle if they'd killed off all of it, but 1:09 into the 3rd, the Winterhawks got a break as Jared Freadrich's point shot bounced off the end boards and off the skate of Liam Hughes and into the net. That made it 3-1 and kept Portland in control of the game.

A minute after Seattle cut it to 3-2, a bad John Ludvig penalty put the Winterhawks under more pressure, but they came up with another kill.

The Big Picture

3 for 7 power play and a 5 for 5 penalty kill. That's the game right there.

A big win for an early-season game, because it was Portland's best chance to win until either October 14 (four more games) or October 27 (eight more games). So it was good to get past the "0-for" stigma.

Cody Glass controlled the game, and in ways besides his second straight 3-assist game. He was in on about half of Portland's scoring chances, he settled them down on a power play that was 3 for 7 (and is 5 for 14 since he came back), and constantly helped them get through center cleanly, which is valuable defensively as well as offensively.

The half-empty: not really a sustainable-type win. The game was won with mostly their top few players and mostly with special teams. They'll need more offense five-on-five and need to get a few more players involved.

Seattle will be kicking themselves for beating expected contender Vancouver on Friday and then losing to Portland. Not the best travel spot for them though. Liam Hughes was their best player, although the goals he gave up were kind of iffy.

Cross Hanas had his potential first WHL goal waived off for knocking the puck down with a high stick to create his breakaway. But I think his first isn't too far away.

"Yes, boys worked hard for it. Got a lucky weird goal but a goal is a goal."

[7 minute penalty]"I don't know the new TBirds too well yet, but I think it was McNelly crosschecked DeJong down to the ice, then kept on him well after the puck was gone away from the play.

Dureau? stood up for DeJong, then, well, it was on."

"Someone might have commented on the slowwwww starts but tonight seemed pretty darn good. I arrived about 5 after the game started and the crowd noise indicated otherwise. Fast start, offense/defense seemed good. Puck passing at times was wonky but better that past. Coming together."

[Farkas]"he is *not* good at handling the puck.

As much as we like to talk about Mac, he was actually pretty decent with that (just too aggressive)"